Electric lantern



Feb. 20, 1945. j. T. BAIRD 2,369,637

ELECTRIC LANTERN vFiled April 1o, 1942 2 sheets-sheet 1 Feb, 20, 1945. F T BAlRD 2,369,637

ELECTRI C LANTERN Filed April l0, 1942 `2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented; Feb. 20, 1945 A Y j Frank' :nnen-annie Ingham, Application April 10,1942, serial Nul-438,461v e rclaims.' (cnice-"10.635

invention rentes .te portab1e-e1ectric more particularly intendedas a railway lantern. Lanterns used'by train men arev aptfto be subjected to rough-usage and should have particu-` lar characteristics to make them adapted or desirablefvfor such use. i

' VThe'objec'ts "of, this invention are to provide an improved'electricy lantern for the uses -intended,'whic`h will besir'nple and durablen constructinanl particularly ecien'tin operation; d

ylanterns or lamps-adapted for general use, but

toprovide an electric lantern having a novel A switch whichmay be actuated by movingV the main portions of the `lamp structure which are movable relatively' to each other; `to provide an electric Ilantern having a source of electricity and aswitch forl connecting the source-with one or more lampsbri bulbs .without-:the use of 'any switch' lever'or n lantern havingan enclosed switch and having means for locking 'the switch in' either,v off for on jposition; to provide a portable electric lantern with a frame or supportingportion which is yieldable 1er resiliently connected withfthe" main body; and to provide such other'i'mp'rove-'- ments-in construction and advantagesirrope'r---v ation'l as will appear more fu1ly'-:hereinafter.f 'Inf the *accompanying drawings illustrating this invention; l v Y AFig." 1 is 3 a` longitudinal sectional -view yofa lantern embodying this invention lwith 'parts broken away for convenience in illustration;

I'.Eig. -3 isa bottom plan view of vthe batteryshowing 'its terminals `or contacts;

"g. -4 is a secti vnal view taken substantially "Fia 5-is afsectional detail taken on -thelflin'e-v retornan Fig. 6 is a side view of aportion-o! the'lantern taken from the left handsi'de of Fig. 1;

Figljl'Z- isa sectional detail of the bulb sockets; f

and Y Figiv 8 isawiring diagram'showing the circuits.

for two lamps.

'Asfshown in these drawingsythe lantern has' a body creasing I0 comprising a lower base por- 'the like; to provide "anA electric# 2 is a sectional view taken substantiallyl Hi..y This handley is. preferably in the formof a `loop or :bail for convenience' in .carrying the:

lantern'on the armas well as in' the hand. ,The ibase* Il "converges towards its lower end,

and terminates man inwardly extending flange,

I-'I`which denes a circular opening'in thebase.

An auxiliary base section `or ring llfilts in the. openingfin the Ibas'eand has an outwardly ex-fl tendingshoulder `Ill that rests on theflange l1,

and valso has an'upwardly extending peripheral flangeZll. The ring I8 is approximatelyin the form offa sphericalsegment and; supports a somewhat similarly shaped lamp supporting subbase membrilfwhic'h, for' convenience, will be ofA thereflector'- 2l 'has an outwardly: extending flange 22 that rests-*on the shoulderfl and' ts Y within the lange'lil `of ther-ring I8;v Thelower.

endof the refle'ctorZI-is threaded as shown at 23 :foryengagement withfa, globe24. The outer surface ofthe reflector `2Iis polished and the flat surface formingthe end of the threaded portion', together with the adjacent exposed' surl face serves to-eiectivelyreect the light from' the bulbs, andthis is particularly noticeable whfentheglobejlis omitted. The outersur faceof Athe ring I8 is also preferably polishedandf coacts "'v'vithl -ther reiiector ZI in projecting the lightray'sa 'j |Ivhe lantern has a supporting stand 25 pref- `erablyiormed of -wire as shown with legs l26, the upper ends of which are shaped to conform withtheauxiliary base or ring I8 and are secured thereto'in any*` suitable manner as by rivets or spot welding. `The upperends of the legs have outwardlyfextending projections 2'I` whichv serve as stops vorl abutmentsfor purposes which will presently be described. The ring I8 is'rotatable with respect to the reiiector 2|, but order to fasten these' parts together, I provide a 'set screw 28 which extends'kthrough a"threa'ded hole k29 extending throughan embossment on one of the legs and also-through the ring I8 'so that the end tion"`l'l"and an upper or cap portion |21, these parts being detachably and adjustably connected 'by anysuitable means such as the threads I3 on the baser lwhich `engage with threads I4 I,on `the top or cap. provided lwith -a Abail or handle corresponding erably'pivotally -4connected to the base by pivots4r The vlantern is 5' I5 whichis prei ofthe set scvrewfdwill` engage with the reectorv 2l as shownin Fig.- 1. A locking cam' is pivoted 'at "3lV to .one of theflegs 28 and is yadapted to engage withthe'lower face of the ange I1 when it is desired to fasten the stand 25 and attached-partsV against movement with respect to the body'or casing. f

A switch andiampsupportingdisc 32A formed `of insulating material fits'freely within therupstanding flange 20 and rests on the flange 22 and isvsecured-to-the latterby meansof rivets 33er' other suitable means so that it will rotate 'with` designatdas fa' reector. The uppermportion.

the reflector 2|. The disc 32 carries a central contact plate 34 which is connected by rivets 35 and 36 to lamp socket supporting bars 31 and 38. These parts are also further electrically connected by means of a bus bar or connecting plate 39 which will tend to maintain the circuit in the event of failure of contact through either one of the rivets. The disc 32 also carries contact segments 40 and 4| as best shown in Figs. l and 2. The segment 40 is connected by rivet 42 with a lamp socket supporting bar43 which coacts with the bar 31 to support one of the lamp sockets 44. The overlapping ends of the bars 31 and 43 are insulated from each other and a yielding or spring contact 45 is provided for engagement with the central terminal of the bulb 46 as shown in Fig. '1, such socket arrangement being of more or less common construction. The segment 4| is connected by means of a rivet 41 with a lamp socket supporting bar 48 which coacts with the bar 38 to support a second lamp socket 43 for a lamp 50, the socket arrangement being the same as just described with reference to the socket 44. The center contacts of the lamp bulbs are thus both connected through the connections just described with the contact plate 34. The other contact of the lamp 46 which is provided through the usual `threaded socket connection is connected with the segment 40 and the corresponding contact of the lamp 50 is connected with the segment 4| A battery which may be either a dry battery or a storage battery is mounted in the casing bodyv l0. The center or positive terminal of the battery'comprises a spring or resilient contact 52 which engages with the plate 34 and is positioned eccentrically so that when the plate is revolved with respect to the terminal, the terminal will follow a circular path around the center of the plate. The negative or other terminal 53 ofthe battery is a spring contact or wiper and is positioned so that its lower end will en` gage with the segments 40 and 4|. The engaging end of this contact is suiciently wide so that it will bridge the gap 54 between adjacent endsof the segments as shown in Fig. 2, this being for the purpose of completing circuits through both segments simultaneously to light both of the lamps. The spring contacts 52 and 53 have suiiicient strength or resiliency to support `the batteryand to press the `upper end thereof closely in engagement with the cap I2 whereby there will be suilicient friction between the battery and the cap to rotate. the battery when the casing is turned with respect to the baser or stand and parts connected therewith.

` The circuits for the lamps, as shown in Fig. 8,

are from the battery 5| through` contact 52 to the plate or contact 34, thence through the bars 31 and 38 to the center contacts of the lamps 46 and 50 respectively. The opposite terminal of the battery is connected with the spring contact or switch blade 53 which is adapted to make contact with the segments 40 and v4|. When contact is made with segment 40, the lamp 46 will be lighted and when contact is made with both of the segments, the lamps 46 and 50 will both be lighted. Then as the blade or contact 53 moves aroundl and makes contact with 4| only, the lamp 50 will be lighted and when it is out of engagement with the segments, the circuit will be broken so that neither lamp will be lighted. This switch operation for turning the lights off and on is accomplished by rotating one of the principal structural portions of the lamp,

namely, the body or casing with respect to another of the principal structural features of the lamp, namely, the stand and parts connected therewith.

This turning the lamps off and on may be accomplished in several Ways: for instance, with the cam 30 in releasing position and the set screw 28 tightened, the user may hold the stand 25 with one hand and turn the body or casing I0 with the other hand either by grasping the body directly or byvusing the handle. VAs the casing is turned, the battery terminal or contact 53 wipes across the several switch segments to complete the circuit with one or more lamps-or to cut off the circuit as above described. The

and upper part of the cap |2 are sufficiently .long so that the cap may be screwed down to give a normal pressure on the battery and hold the battery terminals in contact with the ccacting switch terminals while producing suilicient friction between the cap and the battery to cause rotation of the battery with the casing. Then if it is desired to fasten or lock the parts with the switch members iny predetermined position, the cap or top |2 may be screwed farther down to increase the tension on the spring contacts 52 and 53 so that the pressure Will prevent the accidental or unintentional rotation of the battery with respect to the ccacting switch members and therefore avoid any likelihood of the lantern being jarred or unintentionally left in either lighted or unlighted position. If the set screw 28 is loosened, the reflector 2| may be turned with respect to they other parts ofthe lantern to operate the switch for lighting the lamps.-

In using lanterns, particularly for railway purposes, I have found that if the casing is rigidly secured to the stand, any jar to the stand, which is the part that usually strikes When the lantern is subjected to rough usage, tends to strain or injure the fastenings between the stand and the casing, and may also injure the casing or the filaments of the lamp bulbs. In accordance with the present construction, the stand 25 and parts associated therewith are movably mounted in the casing and the parts are mainly held in operative yposition by the tension of the spring contacts 52 and 53, which tend to hold the disc 32 land parts in which it is mounted against the flange |1. Consequently, when the stand is hit or strikes any object, the strain is taken up by the springs and tends to prevent injury to the parts. Any lateral forceapplied to either the casing portion or the stand portion would tend to cause a pivotal or hinging action about the adjacent point of contact between the flange |1 and the shoulder I9 and any longitudinal force applied to either of these portions would tend to move one portion axially with respect to the other, and in each instance, the force would be resisted by the springs 52 and 53. The movement between the stand and casing is preferably limited by the projections or abutments 21 which may engage with the flange I1 if the stand is moved a suilcient distance out of alignment with the casing. In some instances, this freedom of movement may not be desirable, in which case the user may swingthe fastening cam 30 into locking position against the flange |1 and thereby lock the stand and partsl associated therewith rigidly in position with respect to the casing.

While I have shown a preferred form of my invention as applicable to a lantern having two bulbs, itis apparent that the same may be adapt-V l v2,369,337 ed for use with one bulb only and other parts may be modified or changed without departing' v from the scope ofthe invention, and therefore 1 4 do not wish tobe limited tothe particular structure shown and described except as specified in the following claims in which I claim:

1. `In an electric lantern, the combination of a casing comprising two parts having threaded engagement which provides for longitudinal adjustment between said partsfa battery mounted in the casingL and engaging with one end thereof to hold itA against rotary movement with respect to the casing, a supporting ring rotatably mounted in the opposite end of the casing and projecting outwardly through an opening therein, a reflector member fitting inthe ringl and projecting therefrom, a disc f insulating material secured to the inner end of the reflector and rotatable therewith, means carried yby Athe disc and extending outwardly through therelector for holding electric bulbs', switch contact memj bers on the disc', compression spring battery terminal contacts interposed between the battery fand thedisc and adapted toA engage with-said,

, therein,v a reector fitting inthe ring and projecting beyond the same, a globe engaging with the lower end of the reflector, means for releasably fasteningthe reflector and ring together, a stand formed of wire or the like secured to theiring and extending beyond the globe, lamp sockets,

mounted in the reiiector, lamps carried by said y sockets and enclosed ln the globe, a battery in disc, a battery mounted in the casing with one end having frictional engagement with the casing whereby it may be rotated therewith, a spring terminal on the battery engaging with the center terminal on the disc and mounted eccentrically, a secondspring terminal on the battery adapted to engage with said segments, said spring terminals serving to hold the battery in frictional en gagement withv the` casing, lamp sockets mounted in the reflector member, and circuits from said lampsockets to the center contact on the disc and to said segments, said circuits including a bus bar on the'lowerl face of the disc for connecting two of the circuit members leading from the disc, the arrangement being such that when the casing orparts connected therewith is rotated with respect to the stand and parts con.

nected therewith, the switch will be actuated to open and close the circuits from the battery to" the lamps. 1

4. In an electric lantern, the combination of a battery casing having an inwardly projecting .flange at the bottom thereof dening a circular opening, a supporting ring fitting in said opening and having an outwardly extending shoulder n resting on said flange whereby it is movably mounted in the casing,`a stand secured to said supporting ring, ya reectoi member rotatably mounted in said supporting ring and having a flange extending outwardly over the flange on said ring, adjustable means for locking the refiector member to the ring, a lamp socket associated with said' reflector member and extending outwardly through the lower end thereof for ree ceiving a light bulb, a disc mounted on the upper end of the reflector member, means for securing the disc to said member, switch contacts on said disc, conductorsv from said contacts to the lamp the casing, a switch enclosed in the casing and circuits from the battery to thelamps including said switch, the arrangementbeing such that the switch kmay be actuated by rotating fthe casing and parts movable therewith with respect to the "stand and' parts connected therewith.

.- 3. In an electric lantern, the combination of a casing including a lower section and an upper section having threadedfengagement therewith,

' a handle secured to 'the lowerfsection,r a stand,

reflector means secured to the stand and rotatably mounted in one end of the casing, a disc of insulating material carried by the reflector means and positioned within the ca sing, a .center contact on the disc, switch segments carried by the socket, abattery mounted in the casing, spring contacts on the battery interposed between, the battery and the disc and adapted to coact with the first named contacts for opening and closing the circuit to the lamp, said springs being sufficiently strong to support the battery in normal position with its opposite end in engagement with the casing whereby the battery will be held` lagainst rotation in the casing, said springs also serving to hold the inwardly projecting flange vand parts connected therewith will have a limited on the casing in yielding engagement with the flangel on the supporting ring whereby the stand movement with respect tothe casing which is resisted by saidsprings, and means on the stand adapted to engage with the flange on the casing to limit the movement of the stand and parts connected therewith with respect to the casing.

FRANK T. BAIRD. 

